Advice on moving to Perth

[Collie]

Hi all,

 

Below is an original post I put up in the Poms in Oz forum nearly 2 years ago. I'm still in Sydney and have travelled over quite a bit in the last few years (almost monthly). Just looking for an update on how things are at currently over there. I know that there has been a bit of a slowdown but be good to get the view from the ground re employment prospects, property etc.

 

My daughter will be 3 next year and the whole skype/monthly visitation isn't ideal. My feeling is that I really need to be on the ground and have her spend time with me every week. It is not a very amicable situation with my ex. My contract here is due to finish soon and I think I need to move over with/without a job in the new year. I have a bit saved to get me set up. Happy to take a bit of a pay cut, I think I'll be about $20k pa better off on the cost side with reduced rent and travel costs.

 

Have stayed in Scarbs, Greenwood and North Perth on my visits over. Been very focused on Daddy daughter time but have managed to get a few nights out in Scarbs & Leederville. I really like the vibe in Leederville, just wish it was a bit bigger. Scarbs is ok too and once that new development is finished, I can see it taking off.

 

So in short - is the job situation as bad as I hear (Senior Finance Manager)?

Any suggestions on good places to live? (leaning towards Leedie/North Perth or Scarbs), don't know South of the river well at all so be interested on views here. Seems to be plenty of properties available to rent. Looking for a nice 2-3 bed house/townhouse, ideally with a bit of a garden for my daughter. Thinking $400-$500pw.

 

All thoughts/suggestions gratefully received.

 

Thanks,

Col

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi folks,

 

Disclosure upfront: I'm a proud paddy (aren't we all?) rather than a pom but hope I can still get some get pointers here about possibly moving to Perth in the next 12 months or so. Predominantly about job opportunities and suburbs.

 

About me:

Age: a young 41

Dual citizenship (Aussie & Paddy)

Currently live in Sydney (returned 4 years ago)

Have a beautiful young daughter (<1) who lives with her mum in Perth (don't ask - been a nightmare but safe to say we will not be getting back together)

 

I have lived in Sydney for c. 11 out of the last 16 years so reasonably well versed in Australian ways, culture, money etc but don't really know too much specifically about Perth (although I've had to visit a lot in the last year but didn't get to do too much visiting)

 

I work in finance in financial services (Head office), CIMA qualified and earn a very good salary (mid 100s) and have a great life in Sydney. c.15 years experience mostly in management reporting, commercial decision support, a bit of strategy etc. My impression is that most FS opportunities are Sydney or Melbourne (Head offices of big 4, most intl banks, insurance companies etc) but am open to correction and am interested to hear from anybody who has local insights. I am open to a change of industry too but not sure how open employers are (they tend to pigeon hole you, FS want FS, fmcg want fmcg, resources want resources etc). Potentially open to a change of career also to something related, maybe lecturing. Any employment thoughts, comments welcome and will be appreciated.

 

For those that know Sydney, I live in Balmain which is a great suburb close to the city but with it's own village which is very vibrant, lots of cafes, restaurants, decent old school pubs etc It was a working class suburb that has been gentrified in the last 15 years or so but isn't overly pretentious (I'm open to correction but maybe something like Subiaco). Balmain has a great community feel with everything within walking distance and people say hello etc. I'm involved with the local footie team too (>2,000 members from kids up to o45s). It's mixture of professionals & tradies. I'm looking for Perth's Balmain (if it exists). I have some extended family in Greenwood but probably a bit too suburban for me. I would be interested in people's thoughts specifically about Subiaco & surrounding suburbs. Would like to know a bit more about Wembley, Mount Hawthorn, Osborne park, Glendalough, Mount Lawton, or anywhere else relevant (maybe south of the river). Love Freo, probably a bit too far out for me but love that type of vibe. Again, any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

As you have probably guessed, the reason for considering the move is to be closer to and spend more time with my daughter (& hopefully get to 50% care in time). However I will need to build a life for myself also so probably not suburbia. I'm fairly social and would probably join an o35s footie team for the social side.

 

Thanks all for reading and for your insights.

Col

[verystormy]

Perth has never been great for your occupation. Even the big miners usually have their financial people based over east. The job market generally is very weak.

[Scot01]

If you like the Leedy vibe then Mt Lawley, Subiaco, Freo good options.

[baggytrousers]

Hi Col,

 

I too have lived in Balmain and Glebe, although it was 20 years ago, so I know where you're coming from.

 

If you're looking for something similar in Perth i would say the closest in terms of character and vibe would be South Fremantle. There's quite a few workers cottages in narrow streets populated by lots of arty, muso types (Tame Impala, John Butler, Eskimo Joe all live there) and quite a few trendy cafes and small bars although not on Balmain's level for that.

 

Alternatives a bit closer in would be North Fremantle and Mosman Park which both still have a number of gentrified workers cottages but are interspersed with more upmarket newer properties so it's starting to get a bit more Neutral Bay-like in Sydney terms. The advantage of these two suburbs is that they're on the main Freo to Perth train line so it's half an hour into the city but they still have good access to Freo and still have a bit of the Freo vibe about them with some cheeky little bars and cafes (Mojos and Rodney's are two good examples). It's still a bit arty and Ben Elton lives around here as well as some other more up market artists so it's still got some of that Balmainyness about it and has a mixture of housing before you get to the real upmarket suburbs from Cottesloe inwards. These ones (Cottesloe to West Perth) are very much like the North Shore suburbs in Sydney. Very pleasant but quite quiet and without the character of Freo. Subiaco is OK but is quite upmarket these days.

 

Other options for interesting little districts are Northbridge and Highgate, Leederville and Mount Lawley all of which have pockets of good shops, cafes, cinema, etc but nowhere near on the scale of inner Sydney.

 

As far as the job market goes it has undoubtedly tightened but there is still work out there. I work in IT and our company is really busy at the mo. Do know a few people who have had spells out this year but virtually all of them have found another gig pretty quickly. I have one friend who has been out of work for 6 months though but he does seem to have been extraordinarily unlucky.

 

Can't speak for financial services but I would imagine it would probably be similar to the IT market, tight but still options out there so you may get something straight away but it would be wise to prepare for the possibility of having to wait a while before something comes up.

 

Good luck

 

Brian

[Collie]

Thanks all for the responses.

 

& thanks Brian for your suggestions. Don't know Mosman park, North/South Freo well at all, will have to do a reccie on my next trip over. Have visited Freo a few times and really liked it. Only flying visits though, not enough to make a call on yet.

 

Balmain is a lot quieter these days, unfortunately. I first moved here in 2000 and it was bouncing. I think it's all the same people just older with big mortgages and kids. Pubs are busy Sat nights but otherwise quiet. Still a great suburb, close to the city, no through traffic, full of great cafes, pubs, restaurants & a nice community.

 

Starting to talk to recruiters, the more I think about it the more it feels like the right move. Will suss it out over the next few weeks and get opinions from family and friends.

 

Happy to hear more thoughts and opinions from people on the ground.

[baggytrousers]

Thanks all for the responses.

 

& thanks Brian for your suggestions. Don't know Mosman park, North/South Freo well at all, will have to do a reccie on my next trip over. Have visited Freo a few times and really liked it. Only flying visits though, not enough to make a call on yet.

 

Balmain is a lot quieter these days, unfortunately. I first moved here in 2000 and it was bouncing. I think it's all the same people just older with big mortgages and kids. Pubs are busy Sat nights but otherwise quiet. Still a great suburb, close to the city, no through traffic, full of great cafes, pubs, restaurants & a nice community.

 

Starting to talk to recruiters, the more I think about it the more it feels like the right move. Will suss it out over the next few weeks and get opinions from family and friends.

 

Happy to hear more thoughts and opinions from people on the ground.

 

Hi Col,

 

Doesn't surprise me that Balmain is a bit more staid these days. Would be big prices to be in that area these days I expect. Over here, Mosman Park and North Freo are in the big mortgages with kids category whilst South Freo is younger and hipper with Fremantle itself being in the middle and is the area where the majority of pubs are. The Freo area in general has most things that Balmain has but it's all a bit more spread out so doesn't have quite the same nice villagey feel of Balmain but it's still pretty good.

 

As far as playing football goes there's East Fremantle FC and Fremantle United who are next season merging into a new club called Fremantle City which should be fairly big although the majority of members are for the kids teams. East Fremantle definitely had adult teams ( I used to play for one of them) in both the Amateur and Social leagues. Pretty sure Fremantle United had some adult teams as well so I'd imagine there would be a few options in the new merged club. Other options are Western Knights in Mosman Park which is mostly adult teams, some of which play State League or Melville City which is a couple of miles East of Freo. Subiaco is a big club and seems pretty good if you end up closer to the city. There's also plenty of social kickarounds going on so plenty of options.

 

Best of luck with the ongoing job search and reccies and if there's any specific info you need just let us know.

 

Cheers

 

Brian

[Collie]

Hey folks,

 

Over this week if anybody is about for a catch-up?

 

Have my daughter the weekend and doing a few recruiter meet-ups and will do a few area reccies. etc. Think I will be good to move by Australia day.

[Collie]

Hi folks,

 

Quick update.

Decision made to make the move in January. Plan to be on the ground by Australia day. Mixed feedback from the recruiters, general view is that there are small signs of an uplift. Should get work but will need to be flexible (which I am), a couple of potential roles that I'm in for in the new year. If anybody becomes aware of a role for a Finance Manager in their network, I'd appreciate the lead.

 

Seems to be plenty of housing stock to rent (& a lot cheaper than Sydney). Had a look at a few places when I was over. Looking Scarborough, Doubleview, Wembley (& Downs). Be ideal if I could something nice in my budget in the Mount Hawthorn area. 2-3 bed house with a small back garden & parking. Reasonably clean and modern/renovated. Preferably <$500. Followed Brian's suggestions above and had a look at South Freo, looks good but not a lot available in what I'm looking for. A little far from the city if I was to end up working there, be perfect if working in Freo.

 

Have started the clear out in Sydney. Getting a few quotes from movers, seem to range from $3k to $6k for 20m3 and take 1-2 weeks. Not much to different to Dublin-Sydney in 2011 believe it or not.

 

Looking forward to starting a new life in Perth. Hopefully get to meet some of you.

 

Merry Xmas all.

Colin

[chigal]

Hi Colin,

 

I'm an oldie from years ago on here but decided to return to see if I could meet up with some more fellow expat Poms! Read through your posts and wish you all the best with the move :-) We are SOR - happy to help where we can.